Can you recognise good leadership when you see it?
Imagine a leader, and describe what appears in your mind’s eye. Henry V? Richard Branson? Sharon White? Ozwald Boateng? Lord Karan Bilimoria? History, literature and personal experience help us to form an idea of what leaders – and from that, leadership – look like. If you’re a founder hiring a professional CEO, or looking for […]
IPOs for founders: The good, the bad and the ugly
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to take anyone else’s money to grow your business. You’d just take your ample profits and reinvest them back into the top line, bootstrapping your way into the Fortune Global 500, with full control. On Earth, getting into the upper echelons of corporate success generally involves taking some […]
Growing companies need execution as well as ambition
When Ray Kroc struck a deal with the McDonald brothers to scale their fast food burger concept, he didn’t limit his ambition to a few restaurants in the American Midwest. He thought big, and that’s what he got. We work with many founders in high growth companies, and also with non-founder-led companies that consistently outgrow […]
eBook: What difference do leaders make to growth?
In this free eBook, we break down how to cultivate leadership for growth, distinguishing the difference between great leadership and great management, and what it takes to catapult your business forward. Understand what difference leaders make to growth. Highlight the role of growth for leadership vs management. Discuss the seven qualities of a great growth leader. […]
Fractional leaders: Are they worth it?
High growth companies often choose to hire fractional (part-time) senior executives to fill roles that they either don’t want to or can’t pay for full-time. These can be relatively specific, such as supply chain director or chief data officer, or broader strategic positions such as a CMO or CFO. The fractional executives they hire could […]
Why recruiting superstar NEDs requires creative thinking
A great non-executive director can have a real impact on a growing business. Their specialist expertise, connections and outside perspective can help it avoid costly pitfalls, develop capabilities and unlock new opportunities. The problem is that great NEDs – aside from the traditional (much maligned) ‘seasoned white male’ variety – don’t exactly grow on trees. […]
How Fashion UK aims to treble its business
Fashion UK isn’t your average fashion business. Licensing is at the heart of the Leicester-based company, which makes and designs clothing featuring popular characters from the likes of brands such as Disney, Warner Bros, Netflix and Lego. The company was founded in 1999 and has grown aggressively in the past few years, thanks to a […]
Why underrepresented entrepreneurs offer high-growth potential
Just 0.24% of venture capital money goes to Black founders and 0.02% goes to Black women founders. Eric Collins is on a mission to change this. Collins runs Impact X Capital Partners, a venture capital firm that believes in financial returns as well as social change and backs entrepreneurs looking to improve society and the […]
Improving diversity and equity in the fashion industry
DE&I has become a buzzword for many companies, but fashion still has a long way to go when it comes to improving diversity, equity and inclusion. A recent report from the British Fashion Council found just 5% of the most senior roles in the industry are held by people from an ethnic minority background. Chanda […]
Re-booting the CBI’s purpose, fast
Rain Newton-Smith surely thought long and hard about whether to accept the role of Director-General of the CBI. The invitation has ‘glass cliff’ written all over it. Chief among the items in her unenviable in-tray are restoring trust in the scandal-ridden business lobby and stopping the exodus of big employers that threatens to kill its […]
